This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
First sign of problem - Sept. 2021. Driving on highway at about 35 mph. Simultaneously, engine quit running, door locks unlocked and all dash lights came. In a matter of less than a second the doors relocked, forward momentum of vehicle caused transmission to kick start the engine and jolt forward rather violently. Then the dash lights went off and the vehicle resumed normal operation. This continued to happen with increasing frequency. I took the vehicle to the local Chevy dealer to set up an appointment for service. When I explained the problem to the representative, he told me that the battery was the likely cause. I went to an auto parts store and had the battery checked. It did, indeed, have a bad cell. I replaced the battery and the car operated fine for several months but the problem began to recur, infrequently at first but continued to worsen. I discovered later that the same problem also happened when when the car was sitting idling. The difference was that without the forward momentum of the car, the engine did not restart and required being shifted into neutral and started with the key. Also, when driving at a speed of less than about 30 mph, the forward motion was not enough to kick start the engine and shifting into neutral and using the key to restart was necessary while coasting in traffic. Final symptom, the above has happened only now the dash lights go out and the vehicle does not respond at all. After several minutes and several attempts the lights come back on and the vehicle runs. The car had 55,563 miles on it when I bought it and in just over 3 years, I have put 6,237 miles on it and it now sits because I am afraid to drive it. I have had the vehicle back at the dealer twice since having the new battery installed. They simply tell me that they cannot recreate to get a code and therefore cannot help.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned on with the transmission in park(P), the doors would erroneously lock. On several occasions after parking and turning the vehicle off, moments later the vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who checked the battery but found no failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 39,000.
Once again, my doors unlocked then relocked, my dashboard lights went out and the engine stalled. I was on the KU campus when this happened 3 times within 6 blocks. This is getting very scary, especially when i am in a busy area of town. No codes have ever popped up. This has been happening since May 2022. I will keep reporting, hopefully there will be a recall soon. Very frustrated with this situation!
On September 2, 2022, the locks on my car unlocked and relived while I was driving at about 20 mph. This keeps happening over the last 4-5 months. This time it happened twice in two blocks near my home. I have reported this several times. No codes ever come up. Sometimes the car will stall but always starts right back up. I know I am not the only one with this issue. Please find a cause and issue a recall to get this fixed! This can be very dangerous even life threading if there is an accident because of it.
3 times yesterday - September 1, 2022, my car locks unlocked then locked again and the engine stalled. Dash lights did not go off, but the car died 3 times in a matter of 10 minutes.
- Emporia, KS, USA
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Dashboard speed indicator dimming and getting brighter for no reason. no warning lamps. Check engine lamp turned on then after fueling vehicle engine won't start, or won't shut off. Vehicle is an automatic transmission. A button must be engaged to put vehicle in park, drive, etc. The Button often sticks and keys cannot be removed because the transmission won't go in to park. On July 17 the button popped out while driving. This could have stranded myself or my family. The cause of the issue is unknown, but drivers may become distracted when the end of the automatic gear shift lever pops out or as in my case when putting the vehicle into park it pops out and breaks off entirely. I believe it to be a defective part that can easily break. My vehicle has less than 70,000 miles. It has not been assessed by an insurance agent or dealership yet
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the communication system failed to operate as designed. There were no warning chimes and the horn was disengaged. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the radio software needing to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 16V422000 (Electrical System, Equipment). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the air conditioner was inoperable. The contact stated she noticed that there was a consistence of white snow underneath the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, while driving, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to dyer Chevrolet (1000 us-1, vero beach, fl 32960, (772) 617-4793) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the air compressor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that she was concerned about driving the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,000.
The radio will freeze sometimes and the seatbelt chime will never come on if it's not buckled, as well as the vehicle locking itself with the car keys in the ignition even if the vehicle is
1st at 20K miles (2019) my car wouldn't start, stuck late night. Called aaa, battery had dead cell so I purchased one for $200. Months later found out it was covered under the warranty. I started smelling coolant (2019). Dealer said it was the water pump. It was covered under warranty. Started smelling coolant again (2019), it was a valve, wasn't covered. The car wouldn't start, dead cell in the battery again (2020) started smelling coolant (2020), needed a new radiator, wasn't covered under warranty. Started smelling fumes & had a leak. It was the purge solenoid needed replacing, another $500. Two months ago (Nov 2020) the ambient sensor went out $450. Now today (Jan 5, 2021) the airbag light is on and I'm told it's the internal SDM fault and will be close to a $900 repair.
While driving my car "gliches" the lights go on and off, the power steering stops the locks go up and down and all electronics in the dashboard go on and off. Last week, it shut down in the middle of the road and I could not start it for about 5 minutes or so. Got it home and it did it again the next day while it was parked. This started years ago. Brought it to dealer they said "well it's not doing it now". I was not educated at the time to push for anything to be done. The stopping completely while driving that happened last week.
Hazzard lights button would not deactivate. Had just replaced all front headlights and 3 weeks later they both went out. Side mirrors switch is not working.
2015 hatchback 'my link'/infotainment system just 'froze'/pushing on screen to activate usual functions became unresponsive. The vehicle was stationary.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the key ceased in the ignition causing the battery to be drained. Roadside assistance was contacted and the vehicle was jump started. The vehicle was towed on three separate occasions to gerry wood Honda (414 jake alexander blvd South, salisbury, nc 28147) to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The battery and alternator were replaced however, the failure recurred. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 16V257000 (equipment, electrical system) as a possible solution to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
If you are driving in the rain and you have your high beams on the doors will unlock. The wipers will turn off, the RPM's race high accelerating the car into almost a spin if you do not counter correct the steering. The engine and radio shuts off at random times as well. Had a diagnostic check done, nothing wrong with the engine, electrical systems, battery or alternator. Was told it is a manufacturer is with the computer system, but NHTSA will not address the issue until someone get's killed, so General Motors will not fix it, until they are in probate court. As a leo this is unacceptable behavior, especially after our government just bailed them out again with our tax money.
My car starting killing on me I had to leave it and get a ride home a couple off times the last time I had it towed to a dealership were they found out the car was sold to me with a lock out device on it the car has been in the shop since 1-29 I got fired because of no transportion
There is a problem with the passenger presence module according to our mechanic. When an adult is seated in the passenger seat with the car turned on and stationary, sometimes, the airbag system does not turn on as if it does not recognize a person there. If the car is then put into drive, the airbag system still remains off. Other times, the air bag system will turn on at the beginning of the drive and then turn off randomly during the drive while someone is still sitting in the passenger seat. This seems to be an obvious issue as the airbag may not activate in an accident when there is indeed someone in the passenger seat.
While driving down a city street my doors unlocked, all of them. While still driving I pushed the button on the driver door to lock the doors and they all locked. Shut my car off at my destination, got back into car and started it, began driving and again it happened, I re locked all the doors again. Next day, started car, put into reverse and a warning flashed across my information screen about my back up camera not functioning correctly (this was not an option on my car when I bought it, there is no back up camera) since then I don't have the outdoor temp showing anymore and the radio volume, phone buttons on steering wheel do not work, just the ones on the right ride of steering wheel. This has happened just since my warranty on these items has expired. Was this done on purpose by the dealership, using software installed while getting my complementary oil change (that has now also expired)? I have not had my car in for a recall within the last year. If I remember it has only been in for one recall right after I first bought it (around January 2016) so I know it's not that. I have searched the world wide web to learn that many other people are having the same issues with no resolve and there are no recalls. I feel my doors unlocking while driving down the road is a safety issue.
My Chevy Sonic stalls while driving it. The engine shuts down, door locks cycle, lights go on and off, power steering and brakes go out, rpms drop, and until today, it turns back on, the rpms jump sky high, and the motor revs back to life and it goes fine again for awhile. But today it stalled sitting in mcdonalds parking lot and not only didn't start again, but had to be jumped. I can only imagine what would have happened if my granddaughter and I had her in heavy traffic when that happened! every other time it's been going down the road. One time I was in traffic and it almost caused an accident. It happens almost every day. Especially if I'm running the air conditioner. It happens at all speeds. I have taken it to 3 mechanics and it doesn't 'throw any codes'. it did show a little issue with the alternator so we replaced it but it didn't charge anything. I've done some research and this is a common issue with several years of Chevy Sonic cars. Unfortunately our outcry is going nowhere. GM seems determined to ignore us until someone dies and they get sued. Can you please get them to recall the engine or whatever it is that's causing this issue" please"!!! thank you!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bowling Green, KY, USA